1 Kings 13:1

¶ And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

And, behold, there came {H935} a man {H376} of God {H430} out of Judah {H3063} by the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} unto Bethel {H1008}: and Jeroboam {H3379} stood {H5975} by the altar {H4196} to burn incense {H6999}.

Just then, as Yarov'am was standing by the altar to burn incense, a man of God came out of Y'hudah, directed to Beit-El by a word from ADONAI.

Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Jehovah unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.

Commentary

1 Kings 13:1 introduces a pivotal moment in the history of the divided kingdom of Israel, marking God's direct intervention against the religious apostasy initiated by King Jeroboam.

Context

This verse immediately follows the division of the united kingdom of Israel into two separate nations: Judah in the south, ruled by Rehoboam, and Israel in the north, under King Jeroboam. Fearing that his subjects would return their allegiance to the house of David if they continued to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (which was in Judah), Jeroboam established new, unauthorized centers of worship at Bethel and Dan. He even made golden calves for the people to worship, a direct violation of God's commandments (see 1 Kings 12:28-33). Jeroboam's actions were driven by political expediency rather than faithfulness to God.

In this scene, Jeroboam himself is seen officiating at the altar in Bethel, burning incense. This act was a usurpation of the priestly duties, which were exclusively reserved for the Levites by God's law (Numbers 3:10).

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The sudden appearance of the "man of God" demonstrates that God does not remain silent in the face of disobedience and idolatry. He actively intervenes to confront sin.
  • Prophetic Authority: The unnamed prophet, identified as a "man of God out of Judah," acts "by the word of the LORD," emphasizing that his message and actions are divinely commissioned and carry God's ultimate authority, not his own.
  • Confrontation of Idolatry: The verse sets the stage for a direct confrontation between God's truth and Jeroboam's self-made religion, centered on the golden calves and unauthorized worship practices.
  • Usurpation of Priesthood: Jeroboam's act of burning incense highlights his complete disregard for God's established order regarding worship and the priesthood.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "man of God" (Hebrew: ish ha'Elohim) is a significant title in the Old Testament, often used for prophets or divinely appointed messengers. It underscores that the individual's authority and message originate directly from God, rather than from human wisdom or power. Similarly, "by the word of the LORD" (Hebrew: bi-dvar YHWH) further emphasizes the divine origin and mandatory nature of the prophet's mission and pronouncements.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that:

  • God holds leaders accountable for their actions and decisions, especially concerning spiritual matters.
  • True worship must be according to God's commands, not human traditions, political agendas, or convenience.
  • God raises up faithful messengers to speak His truth, even when it means confronting powerful figures or popular apostasy.
  • The allure of blending spiritual practices for personal or political gain (as Jeroboam did) leads to spiritual corruption and divine judgment. We are called to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 12:32

    And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

  • 1 Kings 12:33

    So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

  • 2 Kings 23:17

    Then he said, What title [is] that that I see? And the men of the city told him, [It is] the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:15

    For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

  • Jeremiah 25:3

    From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

  • Jeremiah 32:29

    And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

  • Numbers 16:40

    [To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which [is] not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
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